Cameron Dugmore, an African National Congress (ANC) member of provincial parliament, spoke to News24 and confirmed that the taxi strike would halt due to current engagement with the Minibus Taxi Industry Task Team (MTITT).

ANC steps in to help

This agreement to engage positively with the afflicted industry involves playmakers, and major trade union, Cosatu. Dugmore said:

“They agreed to end the strike on our request and our commitment to bring the affected parties together.”

The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) posted on their public Facebook group, calling for an end to the strike on Monday night.

According to sources close to the matter, the ANC leadership was involved in quelling the unrest in Cape Town. In a province and municipality governed by the Democratic Alliance, this would be seen as major political interference.

IOL reported on the reasons behind the taxi strike and ensuing chaos, which included damage of property and intimidation of other road users.

Taxi strike stems from leadership issues

According to taxi bosses in the Western Cape, the umbrella body tasked with monitoring and managing the industry, the South African National Taxi Association Council (Santaco), had serious leadership issues.

The two main taxi organisations in the Western Cape, CATA and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA), joined forced to form the Minibus Taxi Industry Task Team (MTITT).

Founded in September 2016, the MTITT has sought to engage government and Santaco on challenged facing the local taxi sector.

But according to the task team, government and umbrella organisations have continually turned a deaf ear to the complaints.

Previously, Santaco had refused to honour a conference called to action by MTITT, leading to further frustrations and an eventual strike action.